Posted by mars on February 1, 2001, at 6:06:21
In reply to depakote, weight gain, hair loss, posted by Suze on February 1, 2001, at 0:28:40
Hi Suze ~
I have a terrible problem with my weight anyway, so my pdoc tried to avoid depakote and used lithium. It's usually worked but during one bad period she put me on depakote. I just could not cope.
According to a very knowledgeable person here (take a bow, Scott) both lithium and depakote can cause hair loss. I never had problems with eyelashes but did lose a bunch of hair while on lithium and going through a divorce. I'm told that extra selenium and zinc in addition to a good multivitamin will help with that.
The threads are in the previous period - just look for "hair loss".
Good luck. I know several bipolars whose pdocs are insistent that they start with and stick to depakote, but I also read somewhere else that lithium is underutilized.
mars
> I just started depakote Jan. 11. Diagnosed bi-polar, rapid cycling. Was wondering if there's anyone out there who's been able to control the weight gain (I was on serzone before and gained weight from it, which seems to be a continuing pattern with depakote). Also, I've noticed some of my eyelashes falling out. More than would be considered "normal." This is scaring me! If I'm going to be gaining weight and losing all my eyelashes, what's the point? I'm beginning to think I'd rather go through the manic episodes and depressions than have to deal with these side effects. Any opinions??? Thanks.
poster:mars
thread:53078
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010131/msgs/53088.html